We know you’re focused on building your new app for workplace productivity, but don't forget about your video. It's often the first (and sometimes only!) thing that judges and voters review.

A good video tells the story behind your submission, providing a clear and concise explanation of what your app is and does. Here are some tips to remember:

Establish your elevator pitch. In the first few seconds of your video, explain how your app uses the Office 365 products and tools to help businesses and organizations work better. You can get into the details of how it works later on in the video, but treat the opening seconds of your video as you would a movie trailer or TV ad: pique your audience’s interest.

Show, don't tell. Demonstrate your app’s functionality and features through screencasts. Explaining what it does and how it works helps judges and voters understand and appreciate your product design.

Keep it simple. Per the official rules, your video shouldn't be much longer than five minutes.

Don't wait until the last minute to upload your video. Due to file size, format, and your Internet connection, uploading a video to YouTube, Vimeo, or Youku could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Get organized. Write out a script of what you’ll say and demonstrate in your video and rehearse it before recording.